76 
THE HISTORY OF 
and lemons are desirable fruits, and useful enough in many cases, yet, when 
the want of them is supplied by others more useful, we have no cause to com- 
plain. There is no climate that produces every thing, since the deluge 
wrenched the poles of the world out of their place, nor is it fit it should be so, 
because it is the mutual supply one country receives from another, which 
creates a mutual traffic and intercourse amongst men. And in truth, were 
it not for the correspondence, in order to make up each other’s wants, the 
wars betwixt bordering nations, like those of the Indians and other barba- 
rous people, would be perpetual and irreconcileable. As to olive trees, I 
know by experience they will never stand the sharpness of our winters, 
but their place may be supplied by the plant called sessamun, which yields an 
infinite quantity of large seed, from whence a sweet oil is pressed, that is very 
wholesome and in use amongst the people of Lesser Asia. Likewise it is used 
in Egypt, preferably to oil olive, being not so apt to make those that eat it 
constantly break out into scabs, as they do in many parts of Italy. This would 
grow very kindly here, and has already been planted with good success in 
North Carolina, by way of experiment. 
7th. After crossing the Dan, we made a march of eight miles, over hills 
and dales xas far as the next ford of that river. And now we were by prac- 
tice become such very able footmen, that we easily outwalked our horses, 
and could have marched much farther, had it not been in pity to their weak- 
ness. Besides here was plenty of canes, which was reason enough to make 
us shorten our journey. Our gunners did great execution as they went 
along, killing no less than two brace of deer, and as many wild turkeys. 
Though practice will soon make a man of tolerable vigour an able footman, 
yet, as a help to bear fatigue I used to chew a root of ginseng as I walked 
along. This kept up my spirits, and made me trip away as nimbly in my half 
jack-boots as younger men could do in their shoes. This plant is in high es- 
teem in China, where it sells for its weight in silver. Indeed it does not grow 
there, but in the mountains of Tartary, to which place the emperor of China 
sends ten thousand men every year bn purpose to gather it. But it grows so 
scattering there, that even so many hands can bring home no great quantity. 
Indeed it is a vegetable of so many virtues, that Providence has planted it very 
thin in every country that has the happiness to produce it. Nor indeed is man- 
kind worthy of so great a blessing, since health and long life are commonly 
abused to ill purposes. This noble plant grows likewise at the cape of Good 
Hope, where it is called kanna, and is in wonderful esteem among the Hotten- 
tots. It grows also on the northern continent of America, near the mountains, 
but as sparingly as truth and public spirit. It answers exactly both to the figure 
and virtues of that which grows in Tartary, so that there can be no doubt of its 
being the same. Its virtues are, that it gives an uncommon warmth and 
vigour to the blood, and frisks the spirits, beyond any other cordial. It cheers 
the heart even of a man that has a bad wife, and makes him look down with 
great composure on the crosses of the world. It promotes insensible per- 
spiration, dissolves all phlegmatic and viscous humours, that are apt to obstruct 
the narrow channels of the nerves. It helps the memory, and would quick- 
en even Helvetian dulness. It is friendly to the lungs, much more than scold- 
ing itself. It comforts the stomach, and strengthens the bowels, preventing 
all colics and fluxes. In one word, it will make a man live a great while, 
and veYy well while he does live. And what is more, it will even make old 
age amiable, by rendering it lively, cheerful, and good-humoured. However 
it is of little use in the feats of love, as a great prince once found, who hear- 
ing of its invigorating quality, sent as far as China for some of it, though his 
ladies could not boast of any advantage thereby. 
We gave the Indian the skins of all the deer that he shot himself, and the 
